Photographing notebooks of personal identity documents and papers bearing images
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Fatwa No. ( 4885 ):
Q: We have a machine for copying documents and certificates. We ask your Eminence to inform us about photographing notebooks of personal identity documents and papers bearing images and the like. Is it permissible? Peace be upon you.
A: The original ruling regarding the depiction of living beings is prohibition; for what is established from A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan an-Nasa'i 5356Sahih (Darussalam) It is agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim. And in the hadith of Ibn 'Abbas he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: Mishkat al-Masabih 4498
Therefore, depicting anything that has a soul, whether human or animal, is forbidden; because it involves imitating the creation of Allah. However, out of dire necessity, it is permissible to take photos for identity cards and permits, and photos of suspects. Beyond that, it is not permissible. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: We have a machine for copying documents and certificates. We ask your Eminence to inform us about photographing notebooks of personal identity documents and papers bearing images and the like. Is it permissible? Peace be upon you.
A: The original ruling regarding the depiction of living beings is prohibition; for what is established from A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The people who will be most severely punished on the Day of Resurrection will be those who try to match the creation of Allah.
أشد الناس عذابًا يوم القيامة الذين يضاهئون بخلق اللهEveryone who makes representations of things will go to hell, and for every representation he has made there will be produced a soul which will punish him in jahannam.
كل مصور في النار، يجعل له بكل صورة صورها نفسًا فتعذبه في جهنمTherefore, depicting anything that has a soul, whether human or animal, is forbidden; because it involves imitating the creation of Allah. However, out of dire necessity, it is permissible to take photos for identity cards and permits, and photos of suspects. Beyond that, it is not permissible. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.